Contributed by: xcarlupanddiexxcarlupanddiex(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on June 9th 2009After a couple of records on major label RCA Records, Anti-Flag returns to an independent label to release their seventh proper full-length, completely self-produced by the band and only mastered by Mass Giorgini.
The new album sounds more like an EP than an album -- a little bit like their previ.

After a couple of records on major label RCA Records, Anti-Flag returns to an independent label to release their seventh proper full-length, completely self-produced by the band and only mastered by Mass Giorgini.

The new album sounds more like an EP than an album -- a little bit like their previous EP, A Benefit for Victims of Violent Crime, but this time all the 10 (plus one) songs have never been released before.

The disc is all about anti-capitalism anthems that deal with what is wrong with the world nowadays (religion, suffering, slavery, exploitation of workers and people) and a lot of energy comes out of the stereo, with lots of aggressive punk rhythms and poppy choruses. Basically, after I heard this disc the first time, I wanted to go down in the streets with a molotov. I think this is someting Anti-Flag should be proud of. Serious.

"Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington D.C. (Sheep in Shepherd's Clothing)" opens the dances. It deals with religion and gods, and basically it shows how Marx already knew it all along. It's quite fast and aggressive -- melodic, but not as poppy as "The Economy Is Suffering...Let It Die," which sounds very catchy, with a simple guitar riff that drives the song into its verses and choruses (singing along on "Do you want to live your life as a slave? In chains from the cradle to the grave" will soon become all fans' favorite lines at shows).

The record then goes on with slower songs as "The Gre(a)t Depression," which let me down -- it's a mix between a marching band song and a Green Day "Minority"-era song (no matter if Greg Attonito of the Bouncing Souls, Tim McIllrath of Rise Against, Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire and David McWane of Big D and the Kids Table sing on this one). The real good stuff comes with "We Are the One," even though the intro guitar riff was stolen from "Sold as Freedom" and the melody from "Tearing Down the Borders" (or vice versa?), I must say this song is killer. Back to the Terror State era for sure -- awesome sing-alongs and super angry lyrics you will need to sing with your closed fist or with your finger towards the sky. The end of this song, which flows nicely into the next, is the most punk rock attitude I've heard on a record in quite a few years.

"You Are Fired (Take This Job, Ah, Fuck It)" is definitely my favorite song. Even though it is a minute long, it is super fast and almost crusty, with screams and a direct message to their previous label, which basically is: Fuck off -- you don't care about music but about producing ringtones. Did I already say I love these guys?

Oh yeah, the other songs are good enough but a little but a little bit too slow for my punk guts. "This Is the First Night" and "On Independence Day" remind me of their major label albums. "The Old Guard" has got the best intro of the whole record, reminiscent of their Underground Network LP. The 11th and hidden track (supposedly called "Teenage Kennedy Lobotomy") is fast and anthemic -- almost a joke, but it's actually far better than other songs on this LP.

If you want a good punk record to dance to, and that features some reasons to make a change, this is it.

Great Album, so much better 'The Bright Lights of America'. If you where turned off Anti-Flag because of the Bright Lights album, give a listen to this. Some great songs in the album and there is only one 'skip' for me.

The album is a bit short, I got the special edition with the bonus CD with 3 tracks and they were great, I do not see why the did not include those in the normal album.

I just hope now Anti-Flag stick to this path and do not go back to the Bright Lights era. Definitely check this album out.

How do four mature adults manage to collectively produce shit THIS bad? And this trite? Like, I imagine at some point in the recording process, the guitarist messed up and started playing a song they "wrote" 10 years ago, and didn't realize it. And what the fuck is that vocal noise?

Good album from anti-flag....very pleased that they decided to ditch the bright lights style...the only songs i can't really get into is "on independence day" and that bonus song. And "we are the one" may be one of their best songs ever

I'm giving it such a high score because I've been waiting for them to turnaround and do something straight up....just good punk and the one time I heard this I thought, "You know, maybe they aren't so bad after all." Also awesome how Mike Ski from The AKA's designs their covers. Gotta love him. And uh...there's no such thing as a "too short" punk album.

Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.. I'm sure it's alright. I still appreciate this band no matter how much shit talk they get. Mostly because there's not a lot of bands that are so upfront about they're political idea's but are still able to have that Radio-Friendly kind of sound. I mean.. other bands are as politically motivated or more than Anti-Flag. But, Anti-Flag kind of introduces young kids to these new ideas, which is a really good thing. For that alone, I'll give this album an 8!

Please, "Teenage Kennedy Lobotomy"? I can't believe anyone over the age of 13 takes this band seriously. Sure, I still listen to them for fun every once in a while, but their whole anti-capitalist, PETA-supporting shtick is a joke.

Haven't heard the album, but you can't fault someone who volunteers their time to write album reviews and then only reviews things he/she likes. It's not his job to do this, he does it because he enjoys it.

It's a good review, and it makes sense for someone to review CDs they like, which is why so many reviews on here rank the albums around 4/5 stars. Plus, punk music is great in general, so I'm not expecting there to be an over abundance of low score albums. At least, none that people are listening to and wanting to review.

Great energy, but the lyrics just don't do it for me in terms providing profound criticism of our system. Quite
often it all sounds so fucking cliche like they were simply re-interpreting all works by Marx and emulating his rants on capitalism in the form of, admittedly, good music. Anyway, this album is still solid.

in my opinion this is their best album. Anti- Flag for me have always been one of those bands who have 3 great songs on each record and the others are average but on this album most of the songs are really good

we all know that the lyrics are at times cliche and cheesy and can occasionally make you cringe when you listen to them with your non-punk friends but you can't fault their energy

I think that "The People or the Gun" is a pretty mediocre effort from these guys... and that's coming from a guy who didn't even mind "Bright Lights."

Yes, "BLoA" was over produced, but this one suffers the exact opposite problem at times. And, worse, it feels like it was done intentionally to regain that coveted Indie Street Cred. to wash away some of the RCA stigma. It's like they made the whole record just to say "oh no, were still punk! Listen - no bells or timpani or anything!"

And, I DO think that the songs are all starting to sound like new assemblies of the parts of previous songs, but that's not a good thing. That's always a sign that either the end is near or it should be... (I'm looking at you, Red Hot Chili Peppers.)

The booklet is a good microcosm for how disjointed this effort is. The same band that complains about the evils of capitalism and consumerism closes their "call to action pamphlet" by listing each member of the band and the companies that supply the equipment the guy uses. If I didn't know better, I'd say that sounds a lot like something designed to influence the band's potential consumers- uh, I mean, loyal fans.

This record, and really this band, just feel like they've lost their focus.

I knew this effort was gonna be a little off when I realized that the "title song" didn't make it to the L.P. Which brings up the fact that the free "Which Side Are You On" E.P. is far superior to the record that you had to buy to get it. As a matter of fact, if you learn anything from my review it's this: don't even open the full-length. Just return it and keep the free E.P.

Not only do you get the best of the recently recorded songs, you still screw The Man a little.

pleasantly surprised. i really did not like "bright lights of america" and I'm happy that they turned it around. one of my top three favorite songs on this new album includes the "hidden track". this is my third or fourth favorite record hoovering around underground network, for blood and empire, and the terror state.

"I love how SideOneDummy is practically a career-difibrillator for all of its aging bands. Too bad the difibrillator doesn't really work."

- The place bands go to die.
- Major label dumping ground.

Sure. But they are still a pretty damn good label.

I've got a few minutes, so here's my list of SID albums that I do NOT like:
- American Eyes' Never Trust Anything That Bleeds
- anything from The Casualties
- The Dan Band's Live
- Goldfinger's Hello Destiny
- the MxPx releases
- Slick Shoes' Far From Nowhere

Never heard Custom Made Scare, Dusty Rhodes And The River Band, Supperbell Roundup, or VCR.

I have heard those albums, and I personally think they're nowhere near as good as this one.

Now, have you listened to this, or are you merely basing your opinion on the fact that "the Bright Lights of America" was pretty bad and that the band signed a contract with RCA? If you actually have listened to it, what's so terrible about this album? It's not THAT different from their earlier material.

Got it in the mail today, and I think it's a great record. Best thing Anti-Flag's ever done. It's gritty, furious, and poppy (in the good way) all at the same time. I'd describe it as an angrier version of "the Terror State" or "For Blood and Empire," only with better lyrics.